Package-binding tool support



March 4, 1947. CROSBY ET L 2,416,910

PACKAGE-BINDING V TOOL SUPPORT Filed Aug. 11, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet llllll March 4, 1947. G CROSBY ET AL 2,416,910

VPACKAGE-BINDING TOOL SUPPORT Filed Aug. 11, 1944' 5 Sheets-Sheet-Z v46645 aa gg 3 March 4, 1947.

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PACKAGE-BINDING TOOL SUPPORT Filed Aug. 11, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mum \b A w March 4, 1947. CROSBY ET AL $416,910

' PACKAGE-BINDING TOOL SUPPORT I Filed Aug. 11, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5(ZI/nd 15/668818? 2 6 E Patented Ma. 4, 1947 PA CKAGE-BINDING TOOLSUPPORT George A. Crosby, Park Ridge, and Arvid I. Ericsson,Chicago,Ill., assignors to Signode Steel Strapping Company, Chicago,111., a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1944, Serial No.549,002

8 Claims. (c1. 24s280) Our invention relates to package-binding toolsupports. That is to a support for carrying a tool used in theapplication of tensioned reinforcing or binding strap or wire aboutpackages. Its purpose is normally to hold the package-binding tool inproximityto-preferably above-the space on a shelf or bench wherepackage-binding is to be done, but to permit the operator transiently toshift the tool to the surface of the package for binding. By the use ofsuch supports, tools are less apt to be dropped and damaged andoperators are able to bind packages in quantity faster and with lessfatigue.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tool support thatis simple, light, inexpensive, eifective for the intended purpose,readily adjustable for varying conditions, and easy to manipulate.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

The preferred embodiment of our invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tool support showinghow its base or foot maybe adjusted for attachment to the floor or tothe side of a work bench or other vertical wall; the ful lines show thesupport in normal or inactive position with the tool away from thepackage, and the dotdash lines indicate it in a condition assumed withthe tool in binding position resting on a package;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the tool support, showing infull lines an intermediate position and in dot-dash lines the activeposition. In both positions a binding tool is indicated by dotted lines;

Fig; 3 is an enlarged top plan partly in section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of'Fig. 2;

:Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5 with the supporting arm swungninety degrees;

Fig. '7 is a partial top plan showing the supporting arm swung ninetydegrees from the position of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line-8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on the line 99 of Fig. 3; a

Fig. 10 is a section'on the line l0l0 of Fig. 9;

;Fig. 11 is a section on the line ll--ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged elevation of the arm' camming member and adjacentportions of the sup port pedestal;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged elevation and partial section of the attachingfoot or bracket support secured to the floor;

of the.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line l4-l4 of Fig. and

Fig. 15 is a view similar to" Fig. 14 but with' the foot or bracketsecured to a side wallor bench. a

In general, the tool support includes a tubular telescopic pedestal A,which for convenience may be attachedbya foot or bracket B either to thefloor adjacent a work bench or shelf C or to the wall or side of thework bench, alaterally projecting arm D, which is pivotally carried bythe upper end of the pedestal and extends laterally therefrom so thatits free end may be brought over the space on the bench or shelf wherea. package rests in binding position, and a tool car rierE, which ispivoted to the outer or free end of the arm D and adapted to be attachedin some appropriate manner to the bindingv tool to be supported. The armand tool carrier are spring biased so as normally to hold the tool farenough from the package space to enable a package to be placed inbinding position without interference. By slight effort, however, theoperator may bring the tool to binding position flat against a surfaceof the package and, after completion of the binding operation, easilyreturn the tool to its II, application Serial No. 514,343, filedDecember The pedestal A is composed of two telescopic tubular sections 5and 6. Preferably the sections are formed from lengths of steel pipe ofslightly different diameters. Outer section 5 is pivotally attachednearits lower end to the foot or base bracket B; This foot B is formed withtwo upstanding spaced flanges 9 and Ill between which the lower end ofouter pedestal section 5 lies. The pivotal connection between the footand the outer tubularsection is effected by means of a pivot bolt II andpreferably, in order to provide a longer operating surface and therebyinsure greater lateral rigidity, a section of tubing [2.

passing through aligned holes in and welded to outer section 5, forms anelongated bearing for the bolt I l. Pivot bolt ll passes through alignedholes inthe two footfianges 9 and Ill and axially through the bearingprovided by the sleeve, l2. This construction is shown most clearly inFig. 13.

Foot B is formed with a pair ofparallel webs l5 and I5 which lie betweenflanges 9 and I0 and are separated'far enough apart forxthe lower end.

of outer pedestal section 5 to lie loosely therebetween, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 14. Webs l5 and I6 have threaded holes therethrough forabutment screws l1 and I8, respectively. These two abutment screws l1and I8 serve as adjustable stops for engaging either the lower end'of'section 5 or a stop lug 25 rigidly projecting from. the lower section 5to limit the forward and backward swing of the support pedestal aboutpivot bolt ll, depending upon whether foot B is attached to the floor ora vertical wall. Adjust ment may be retained by lock nuts 21 and 28.Foot flanges 9 and [3 have lateral-1y directed attaching flanges 29 and30, respectively,. which are provided with holes for screws 31 and 32:,-respectively, for anchoring the foot to the floor or to a vertical wallas desired. When, as shown in the full lines of Fig. 1 and in Figs. 2,3, 4, 7, l3 and 14 the pedestal foot is anchored to the floor, the capabutment screws l1 and I8 are located on opposite sides and. in the pathof movement of lower pedestal section 5, and thereby the forward andbackward swing of pedestal A about pivot bolt H- is limited by theadjustment of screws l1 and I8. When the base is anchored to a verticalsurface, the adjustment cap screws are located on opposite sides of stoplug .25 as shown in Fig. 15 and the engagement of that stop lug againstscrews l1 and I8 limits the forward and rearward swing of the pedestal.

I The upper end of outer pedestal section 5 has a rectangular collar 35welded or otherwise rigidly fastened thereto. The forward half of thetop surface of'collar 35 lies horizontally, whereas the rear halfthereof is inclined to provide the beveled surface 36 for a purpose tobe presently explained. Collar 35 has an upstanding flange 3!v along itsrear edge which serves to limit the permissible relative rotationbetween the telescopic pedestal sections 5 and 6 to the desired amount;as shown, to one hundred eighty degrees, or ninety degrees each side ofthe central operative position.

The internal. upper telescopic section 6 of the pedestal is providedwith an adjustable collar 38 which has a hole therethrough only slightlylarger than the external diameter of section 6 so that the section maybe slid axially therethrough. However, the collar is providedwith aradial slot 35 and aligned holes 40 and 4I--the former lieing threadedand the latter unthreaded-at right angles thereto for the reception of aclamp screw 42.

39 may bedrawn together so as to cause the collar tightly to grippedestal section B and there by become immovabl with respect thereto; orthe collar may be forced orpermltted to expand to enable the pedestalsection 6 to be moved'axially therethrough in either direction. Normallycollar 33 of section 6 rests upon collar 35 at the top of section 5 sothat by adjusting the position of collar 38 upon section 6, it ispossible to vary the extent to which the pedestal is extended orshortened so as to adapt the vertical height of the arm of the toolholder for different conditions-such as difierent heights of the bindingbenchor of the packages being bound.

Clamp screw 42 carries a ring or washer 43 which lies in the slot 39 ofcollar 38 and projects intoa' longitudinalslot 44 in the upper smallertubular section 6, thereby preventing relative rotation between theupper tubular section .and the height adjusting collar v38 so that the*two always By means of this clamp screw 42 V the sections of collar 38on opposite sides of slot collar is clamped to the upper tubularsection. In general the adjustable collar 38 is semi-circular so that itmay be rotated relative to fixed collar 35 until one or the other of itsflat sidesstrikes flange 31 whereupon further relative rotation isprevented. Thus as most clearly indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the uppertubular pedestal section 6 and the height adjusting collar 38 can berotated relative to the lower larger pedestal section 5 for 180. Thelower surface of the rear. half of collar 38 is beveled, as at 45,corresponding to the beveled surface 33 of collar35. These confrontingbeveled surfaces cause the telescopic section 5 and the tool supportingarm carried thereby normally to tend to lie with the arm over a packagein binding position. v

The lateral tool supporting arm D at the top end of the telescopicpedestal includes an angular bracket consisting of a pair of parallelside plates 55 and 56, which are rigidly attached in spaced relation tothe top end of. the smaller upper pedestal section 5. The preferredattachment is shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 9-. It is formedbyproviding thetop open end of section '6 with four longitudinallyextending slots cut or milled therein in aligned pairsy and into eachpair one of the side plates 55 or 55 is rather snugly fitted and thenwelded intoposition. 7

Between the side plates 55 and 56. lie parallel levers 5'! and 58 whichare pivoted thereto by a common pivot pin 59. This pin is retained inplace by suitable means, such as cotter pins 50. The outer endsof'levers 51 and 58 carry the tool carrier E. This carrier includes aflat stem 65 lying between and pivotally attached to the outer ends ofthe levers 51 and 58 by a bolt 63 which is retained in place by asuitable nut 61. The form and character of this tool carrier will dependupon the construction of the tool to be supported. In the constructionshown the stem- 65 of the carrier is bent to form a laterally extendingflange 69 which is bifurcated to receive a tool attachment plate 1.0,Plate lfl is pivotally secured to flange 69 by means of a knurled headedpivot stud H which'is biased into forward or anchoring position by aspring 12. Any appropriate means may be employed for securing thepackage binding tool to the attachmentplate 10;

Ward to retaining position.

A' bar or linkl5 lies between-the levers '5 7 and 58 and is pivotallyattached-at its rear end to and between the fixed bracket plates 255,and 56 by a pivot'pin 3'6. The levers 51 and 58 have notches l8 and 79,respectively, foraccommodating the protruding ends of :pin 16. Theforward end of bar or link l-5 is extended by a pair of link plates .85and '86, rigidly attached to 'oppo site sides of the outer end thereofby rivets .81, Thus the link extension :plates' and-86 lie in the planesof the arm levers '51 and58, respectively, being accommodated by notches'88 and V 8.9. respectively, in the'zupper edges of those lepin carriedby the outer ends of link exten sion lates s5 and 86. -A compressionspring .97.

And link extension plates 85 and 85..are Y spaced apart so thatthe stem35 of the tool carrier may lie between the outer ends thereof.-

1 c The tool carrier stem 65 is provided 'WithQanJ I elongated slot 95through-which extends a link lies -i-in" this slot, one end against anend of the slot and the other end against pin 96. It is re-' tai'nedagainst lateral displacement by the two link plates 85 and 86. Thisspring normally biases the stem of the tool carrier so that link pin 96lies against the forward end of the slot 95 in the tool carrier stem 55,In operation, however, the tool'carri'er may be tilted or rocked againstthe force-of this spring. Thus the arm D provides a parallel motionsupport for the tool carrier stem whereby the tool carrier may be swungvertically about pivots 59 and I6 and yet the stem and the tool are nottilted. However, if, as is the case with some types of binding tools,the tool tends to slide slightly along the package during the bindertensioning operation, the pin and slot connection between the toolcarrier stem andthe link extensions 85 and B6 enables the tool so tomove without causing it to tilt relative to the surface of thepackagethe biasing spring 9! returning the parts to normal as soon asthe tool .is released.

In order to facilitate the raising and lowering of the tool carried bythe outer end of arm D, the latter is biased or, in effect,counterweighted, by a spring I05 which is housed within pedestal A. Thelower end of spring I05 is hooked through the eye I06 of a tensionadjusting rod III]. This rod passes through a hole in a guide andabutment cap I08 which fits over the lower end of inner tubular section6 of the pedestal, as shown most clearly in Figs, 2 and 4. The lower endof the rod I! is threaded for an adjusting nut I09, which abuts againstcap I08 and by its position along rod I01 may vary the effective tensionof spring I05. The upper end of spring I is hooked; into the lower endof a link rod H0 and the upper end of link rod H0 is hooked about agrooved barrel III of a pin I I2. The opposite ends of pin I I2 rest innotches I I3 and I id in arm levers 51 and 58, respectively. Preferablythe relation between the arm pivot 59 and the spring pin I I2 is suchthat in the movements of the carrier arm from normal to tool operativeposition, and vice versa, the efiective moment arm of pin II2 variesfrom a maximum when the spring force is at a minimum to a minimum whenthe spring force is at a maximum. Thus the force of spring I05 isapplied to the tool carrier arm on the side of its pivots 59 and I6opposite to that of the tool carrier so that, depending upon theadjusted tension of that spring, the tool carrier and the tool carriedthereby are urged or biased upwardly away from the space occupied by apackage being bound. As desired, this tension may be such as actually tolift the tool from the package unless forcefully held down by theoperator or, as may be the better practice to avoid fatiguing theoperator, the tension may be only such as substantially to.counterbalance the tool so that by very slight effort the operator maylower the tool down into binding position on top of the package andraise the tool after the binding operation to clear the space on thebench for the removal of the bound package and the positioning of thenext package to be bound.

Briefly to summarize, the operation and advantages of our tool supportare as follows: The foot of the support may be attached either to thefloor at the rear of the binding bench or to a vertical wall, such asthe back of the bench, as indicated in Figs. 1, 13 and 14 and 15. In thespecific embodiment shown in the drawings, the normal or packagereceiving position of the 6 tool support is with the upper end of thetubular telescopic pedestal pushed back and the carrier arm in midposition, as indicated by the full lines of Figs. 1 and 3. Also theouter end of the tool carrier arm is elevated, either by the force ofspring I05 or by the effort of the operator, depending upon the tensionadjustment of spring I05. The work space or position occupied by apackage during a binding operation is now cleared so that the operatorcan locate a package to be bound Without interference from the tool orthe support.

After the package has been placed in binding position on the surface ofthe bench, the operator by one composite movement-or by separatemovements if desired-can pull the tool forwardthe tubular pedestalhinging about its anchorage foot to the position indicated by thedotdash lines of Fig. 1-swing it horizontally from a location at oneside of binding position to directly over binding positionthe turning ofthe inner telescopic pedestal section within the outer. telescopicsection permitting this movement.-

lower the tool upon the package to be boundbeoause of the parallelmotion hinging of the carrier arm about pivots 59 and Hi-and accommodatethe tool to any slight unevenness or inclination of the top surface ofthe package-permitted by the in and slot connection between the carrierstem and the link extensions and 85 of the carrier arm.

7 Upon completion of the binding operation, the operator, by merereversal of the movements preceding the bindin operation, can move thebinding tool out of the way for the removal of the bound package and theplacement of the nex package to be bound.

Having thus illustrated and explained the nature and one embodiment ofour invention, what we claim and desire to secure by United StatesLetters Patent is as follows:

1. A package-binding tool support comprising a pedestal, a bracketsecured to the pedestal,- an

' end for extending over the package and an inner;

end extending from the pivot in a direction opposite the outer end, aspring anchored at one end to the pedestal and having the'other endanchored at the inner end of the arm to bias the outer end of the armupwardly away from the package, a tool carrier pivotally connected tothe outer end of the arm, a link pivotally connected to the tool carrierand to the rear portion of the arm, the connection with the tool carrierbeing of the pin and slot variety, and a spring biasing the pin towardone end of the slot.

2. A package-binding tool support comprising a tubular pedestal, abracket secured to the upper end of the pedestal, an arm pivoted to thebracket and projecting laterally from the pedestal, said arm having anouter end for extending over the package and an inner end extending overthe bore of the tubular pedestal, a spring within the bore of thepedestal having one end anchored to the pedestal and the other endanchored at the inner end of the arm to bias the outer end of the armupwardly away from the package, a tool carrier pivotally connected tothe outer end of the arm, a link pivotally connected to the tool carrierand to the rear portion of the arm, the connection with the tool carrierbeing of the pin and slot variety, and a spring biasing the pin towardone end of the slot.

3. A package-binding tool support comprising a pedestal, means foranchoring the pedestal either to the floor or a vertical Wall, anangular bracket at the top of the pedestal, a tool-supporting armpivotally connected to and projecting laterally from the pedestal, saidarm including a lever pivoted to the bracket and a link also pivotallyconnected to and projecting laterally from the pedestal in parallelsmwith the lever,

a tool carrier pivotally connected both to the lever and the link of thetool-carrying arm, and a spring anchored at one end to the pedestal andat the other end to the lever for biasing the outer ends of the leverand link upwardly. I

r 4. A package-binding tool support comprising a telescopic pedestalhaving lower and upper sections, means for adjusting the telescopicrelation of the two pedestal-sections, means for anchoring the bottomend of the lower section-relative to the package-binding location, abracket secured to the top end of the upper section, a tool-supportingarm pivotally connected to the bracket and projecting laterally from thepedestal, said arm including a lever pivotally connected to andprojecting laterally from the bracket and a link .also pivoted to andprojecting laterally from the bracket in parallelism with the lever, atool carrier pivotally connected to the lever of the toolcarrying armand a pin and slot connection between the tool carrier and the link ofthe toolcarrying arm. 7

5. A package-binding tool support comprising a pedestal, means foranchoring the pedestal upright adjacent a package-binding bench, abracket at the upper end of the pedestal, a tool-sup and a spring forbiasing the tool-carrier pin to-' ward one end of the slot.

6. A package-binding tool support comprising ably related sections, ananchoring foot pivotally attached to one section, a bracket attached tothe other section, a tool-supporting arm. pivotally carried by thebracket and extending laterally therefrom, said arm including a leverpivotally attached to the bracket and a link also pivotally attached tothe bracket and lying parallel'to the lever, a tool-carrier pivotallyattached to the free ends of the lever and link, and a spring forbiasing the free ends of the lever and link upwardly.

7. A package-binding tool support comprisinga foot forattachment to afloor or side wall; a telescopic pedestal pivotally carried by thefoot;- said pedestal including a lower tubular section and an uppertubular section longitudinally and axially movable with respect to eachother; ad-

justing means for varying the longitudinal relation between the pedestalsections; and a toolsupporting arm pivotally carried by the upperpedestal section, saidvarm including a lever, a link and a tool-carrierrelated to give parallel motion to the tool-carrier.

8. A package-binding tool support comprising a foot for attachment to afloor or side wall; a telescopic pedestal pivotally. carried by thefoot;

said pedestal including a lower tubular section and an upper tubularsection longitudinally and axially movable with respect to each other;ad-

justing means for varying the longitudinal rela- .tion between thepedestal sections; a tool-supporting arm pivotally carried by the upperpedestal section, said arm including a lever, a link and a tool-carrierrelated to give parallel motion a pedestal formed of two telescopic androtatto the tool-carrier; and a spring for biasing-the outer ends of thelever and link upwardly. ,7

GEORGE A. CROSBY. v ARVID I. ERICSS ON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent: V

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date British Mar. 8, 1938 Number

